The Olympics are here, it is exciting and exhilrating to watch such amazing athletes.

Last night my sister in law and her family came over for dinner, we all sat around the tv  watching the Olympic events and savoring every moment.

Our kids aged 2 to 10 years old loved the excitement, cheering for the Canadian athletes and were so inspired that they created their own Olympic track around my house.

They ran, cheered, giggled and boy did they sweat, they were inspired by our own excitement and appreciation for our athletes.

Today we watched again, cheered, jumped and our very own  Alexandre Bilodeau brought chills to our body and tears to our eyes with his performance on the moguls.

My neice Aryn asked why is everyone crying after  Alexandre won Gold for the men's moguls.

People are crying because Alexandre is the 1st ever to win Gold at home,  we just witnessed a very important moment for Canada.

We are so proud and yes we are moved to tears when our country is recognized for an outstanding performance.

The Olympics have brought us together to cheer, and created a common bond between all ages and has inspired our children to create their very own Olympics,

so they too can be cheered on and share in the excitement of being an athlete!

by @bsainsbury

Teddy was hoovering up muffin crumbs near the CBC building when I noticed him. Who can resist a cute dog? And he's wearing a patriotic neckerchief. Not quite the Canadian flag photo I was looking for but I can't resist petting a dog.

I asked if I could take Teddy's photo and his mom told me Teddy's story. He's a rescue dog - he was starved and abused before he was rescued. He's very well behaved except for his obsession with food. Understandable considering his background. Besides being cute, he's very talented; he dances, does high five, down, stay and sit. He has other things he does, but he was distracted by more muffin crumbs. I'd say he won gold.

Bonnie Sainsbury is a Social Media Strategist, co-founder of Duet Media and a sucker for a warm and fuzzy story.

by Marilyn Anderson, Duet Media

.......Volunteer laundry, that should read.

Today was a great day - perfect Vancouver-in-the-sunshine spring day weather, crowds of smiling people enjoying their Olympic experiences at venues downtown, and lunch shared with two 'new friends' at Alberta House.

That's where the laundry came in!

There was a lengthy wait for a table at the restaurant, and we were happy to be seated with two other diners.  As lunch and conversation evolved, they shared a new twist on the Olympic Volunteer experience.

It turns out they had opened their home to an Olympic Volunteer from Eastern Canada.  If you know any volunteers personally, you understand how long their days can be and how hard they are working.  I know a couple of these good folks myself; it never occurred to me to think about doing their chores at home, too.

I love the blue volunteer outfits - called them 'Smurfs' in an earlier post - but never gave a thought to what those outfits included.  Apparently, those outfits come with everything - pants, jackets, vests, hats, scarves......layers galore.....BUT (here's the catch).....only ONE of each piece.

That seems fair, you are thinking - you only need one jacket, you say.  That's true.  However, think of yourself working 12 hour days, maybe a long time spent in transit each way, and having ONLY ONE TOP/SHIRT.  That's what I mean about the laundry.

Our lunch companions shared the plight of their volunteer houseguest - who gets little enough sleep as it is - and no time to wash that one shirt each day.

Who knew?

SO, my friends, here's my suggestion: if you have a volunteer at your house - or, if you know one - be a star yourself and offer to do the wash.

One  load a day - like vitamins!  (Dry on low, please).

Marilyn Anderson is a Vancouver-based Communications specialist, Co-founder of Duet Media.

There is so much to see and do in Vancouver, Richmond and Whistler with all the Houses beckoning. It gives people the opportunity to learn about places and countries first hand that they never would have before. It is so easy to go because the Houses are right there, so why not?

Russia House by greysquare photographics

Ryan is the most Canadian garbed person I saw today.

Ryan by greysquare photographics

I met him waiting in line for Russia House. He came all the way from Chilliwack (2 hours east of Vancouver) in the rain to see the sights and sounds of the Winter Games. He does not have tickets to any events but that did not deter him from enjoying what the world has to offer. He didn’t know this morning that he would be heading to Russia later that day.

Ryan & friends by greysquare photographics

Russia will host the next Winter Games and have a countdown clock outside their building at the old Science World site. When you have a chance come check it out, because you can, just like Ryan.

by Lara H., greysquare photographics

by @bsainsbury

I checked out the Surrey 2010 Celebration Site today. It was rainy and cold, but several hundred brave souls braved the weather. The 3PM RCMP Musical Ride was sold out. The voluteer told me folks line up for the 11AM opening for the free tickets. The site is family orented, interactive with pleasant and cheerful volunteers .. even in the rain.

They have future Olympic hockey (notice it's co-ed), you can try out curling and there's a 30 foot canoe carved out of one log.

The canoe in the First Nations tent, sponsored by the Kla-how-eya Aboriginal Centre was carved from one 50 foot log that was harvested near Bella Bella. The project was sponsored by the Surrey Art gallery. Four carvers from several nations worked on the 30 foot canoe that actually floats. At 30 feet, this canoe is a "baby", useful for rivers and lakes.

Bonnie Sainsbury is a Social Media Strategist and co-founder of Duet Media.

Just a quick Kudos to all the police officers who were on shift last night.

At the opening ceremonies, as expected, there was a large gathering of protesters. And although profanities and shouts came out against the wall of police set up, the officers handled the situation with a high degree of integrity. It can't be an easy job to stand in the rain for hours listening to shouts like "get those animals or those horses," which was a shout directed to mounted officers.

To those who serve in what is often a thankless profession, "Kudos" to you. You did a great job and please continue to keep our city safe during the games.

D

Such a great opening day!  I spent most of Friday in a daze as I took in the festivities around me, so the images to follow are just the places I ended up stumbling upon throughout the day...

Photos by: Leigh Righton

Website: www.madmannequin.com

Twitter: @madmannequin

By Des Dougan

I can't remember the last time I sat in front of the TV for three hours - perhaps watching one of the Lord of the Rings movies - but I did it tonight, and was captivated. Along with my 14-year-old son, Peter, we watched entranced as the amazing, and sometimes breathtaking, Opening Ceremony unfolded. From Greece to Canada, we watched as the athletes and coaches paraded through BC Place (which was transformed from a concrete balloon into an amazing chameleon throughout).

I'm no longer much of a TV watcher and haven't watched an Olympic opening for a long time; that said, tonight's was quite possibly the most amazing piece of theatre it's been my pleasure to watch - ever. From the first moments, watching the snowboarder carve his way down the mountain and into the stadium through the Olympic rings, to Rick Hansen and his cohorts lighting the cauldron, we sat ooh-ing and aah-ing.

The march of the athletes was fun, and turned into a geography lesson for a Grade 9 student who didn't know what the Soviet Union used to be (it's hard to believe it didn't exist any longer when he was born). We cheered when the huge Canadian team finally made their entrance, a proud Canadian and his immigrant dad, just as proud of the country I now call home.

The cultural segment in the middle was a real eye-opener - knowing how cheesy and kitschy these events can sometimes (often?) be, I had low expectations... Wow, were they blown away or what? Quite amazing lights and graphics led us through from the North to the Prairies (underpinned by Joni Mitchell's ageless talent). The punk fiddlers and the punk poet (Shane Koyczan) whose creation was just so Canadian; the peerless Sarah McLachlan and the quite amazing rendition of Hallelujah by kd lang, who has one of the greatest singing voices ever. It's so hard to recall the details, there was so much to see.

The Olympic flag ceremony and the minute's silence for Nodar Kumaritashvili were emotional moments handled with tact and grace. It was great to see Betty Fox alongside Senator Romeo Dallaire and Bobby Orr. I loved Donald Sutherland's voiceovers during the cultural segment.

Finally, the flame arrived and the only hiccough of the evening when one of the crystal pillars failed to rise, causing a short delay and unfortunately preventing Rick Hansen from taking part in lighting the cauldron alongside Catriona Le May Doan, Steve Nash, Senator Nancy Greene Raine and Wayne Gretzky. Overall, though, a quite stunning demonstration of the great talent and skill we have in this country.

And then I got back to my trusty MacBook to find 200 tweets - some of my co-bloggers really do need to get a life!!!

It's clear that my amazement at the quality and sheer energy exhibited by the performers, and the talent who designed the event, is fairly universal from all the tweets I read. Let's hope, Canada, that the rest of the world recognizes what great talent we have here. And that we Canadians, from wherever we have come, open our hearts and offer our hands to the thousands of visitors to our country and our city.

Des Dougan is Principal of Dougan Consulting Group, which provides technology support services to small businesses in the Metro Vancouver area. Des can be contacted here and via @ddougan on Twitter.

by Judy Bishop - The Travelling Eye

Take a look at the wild, wonderful spirit that infused everyone waiting for the torch as they enjoyed the first, exciting night of the Yaletown LiveSite.  A lot of proud, excited people waiting in line, passed thru security and made a LOT of noise as Ken Lyottier ran the torch home, Gordon Campbell and John Furlong spoke to the crowd ... the cauldron was lit and the fireworks and water cannons fired up.

The eyes of the world are on Vancouver ... and let there be no doubt, we are ready to party !

‘Judy Bishop – The Travelling Eye’ is a Vancouver-based photographer specializing in travel and experience photography. Her stock images are sold worldwide by Getty Images,   Judy was a board member of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics bid, and is a keen Whistler skier.   She is a long-time business/marketing columnist for Business in Vancouver newspaper, and sits on corporate boards.

Judy is also managing partner of Bishop + Company, a 20-year old management consultancy providing corporate & market strategy for technology and growth companies.  Contact info & story summary available. Follow Judy on Twitter @travellingeye

by @mande2 Marilyn Anderson, Duet Media

We got off the train at the same station this afternoon - the father, the son, and I. The son mentioned the Olympic Flame to me and, as we crossed the Concourse, was excited to share their day. His Dad had an appointment in the morning and they had gone together. Once the 'have to's' were done, they had seized the moment....worked out a plan.....and went across town by transit in time to see the Olympic Flame near Vancouver City Hall. He was very excited by what they had done!

As we approached the escalator, he urged me to catch up to the Flame, so I could see it for myself. He knew its route, and recited it to me - by street and avenue, corner and landmark - wanting me to share in it, too. I was ahead of him on the stairs - he stopped to wait for his Dad. Dad was smiling, too.

The son was about 55-60 years of age, in my estimation, making Dad 80-something, I would guess.

He wore a toque, and sported a grizzled grey beard, and used a cane.

He walked independently, his son staying just a step or two ahead, and as he used his white cane to gauge his path it occurred to me that the passing of that Flame in front of them today was not the only Eternal Moment being shared.

Marilyn Anderson is a Communications Specialist and Co-founder of Vancouver's Duet-Media.  She can be found at marilynanderson.tel.

Jann Arden torch relay at Children's Hospital in Vancouver

Photos by Leigh Righton

www.madmannequin.com

twitter: @madmannequin

By Cybele Negris

I was thrilled to watch my friend Christina Anthony carry the Olympic torch today. Christina was chosen as a torch bearer for her community leadership; and well deserved. She is the founder of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs BC of which I and many of her fans today are board members. 

Her entire family was there including her three young children (and one more on the way), husband, parents and lots of friends and co-workers.  We all gathered, cheered, took photos and everyone got into the spirit of things. As Christina approached in the procession of vehicles and was dropped off, the excitement grew even more. There were screams, hollers, chants, cameras and videos all happening at once. I managed to get some really great shots and thought I'd share it with everyone. You can see the emotion and joy in everyone's faces.

If you haven't been to see the torch relay yet, I highly recommend it. Everyone should experience it at least once.

Here is the Interactive Map for the Torch Relay for the next 2 days. There will be Metro-Blenz News Squad members at various Blenz locations along the Relay Route so be sure to say hello.

For those of you who are members of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, don't miss the upcoming event "Being a Torch Bearer in your Business and Community." Christina Anthony and another FWE Board Member, Tracey McVicar (Torch Bearer February 11th) among other leaders will discuss leadership and how to become one of the driving forces in your business and community.  

By Des Dougan

I took my 14-year-old son to Lonsdale Quay this morning for the Olympic Torch Relay. We breakfasted at a well-known coffee shop chain on Esplanade with a couple of networking colleagues, then we headed down to the Quay. Even at just around 8.00, the place was busy with musicians doing their sound-check, volunteers handing out Canadian flags (predictably, my son wanted one of the Coca-Cola sponsored ones, probably because they were glossier that a simple paper Maple Leaf) and a big group of kids from two of the nearby elementary schools. The kids had created great long banners and were proudly showing them off, along with their equally proud teachers.

By 8.30 the place was solid, with people up on the ICBC plaza, others on the external stairways and hundreds of others jammed into the space leading from the Seabus terminal and bus loop to the plaza. There was even one gentleman (who shall remain anonymous, as I know him well) on the roof of the office building adjoining the Seabus.

Just as my Grade 9 son was starting to get bored, we began to get some action, with a couple of morning DJs (are they still called that?) from Virgin Radio acting as MCs. There were the predictable speeches from the Mayor, MP and MLA and some very good drumming from the Stony Creek First Nation Drummers prior to the relay itself.

Scheduled for 8.42 a.m., the runner appeared almost to the second. Victor Kraatz, a former Olympian who figure-skated in three Olympic Games with Shae-Lynn Bourne, brought the torch into the central plaza to loud cheers.

Victor Kraatz carrying the torch in North Vancouver

Following a brief stop, the flame was handed over to another runner (unfortunately, I was unable to find his name on the Torch Relay information sites) who headed back out and up to Esplanade for the next stage of North Vancouver's big day of Olympic excitement.

Thankfully the rain held off while we were at the Quay; unfortunately we had to leave as soon as the torch did so that I could get my son to school. Overall, though it was a most enjoyable event.

Des Dougan is Principal of Dougan Consulting Group, which provides technology support services to small businesses in the Metro Vancouver area. Des can be contacted here and via @ddougan on Twitter.

Matthew Lennox sining for his dinner on Granville St.

By Toby Snelgrove

There are numerous musical venues for the Vancouver Olympics. In fact, there will be over 160 free concerts just in the Vancouver Area. But Matthew Lennox isn’t interested. He’d rather perform his sweet guitar sounds on the street. Born in Toronto, he has been a Vancouverite for the past 10 years. Due to the warm El Nino weather, he decided to hit the streets and start busking for the Olympics. If you can’t get to hear him on Granville St., you can find his guitar melodies here: www.myspace.com/matthewlennoxmusic.

http://www.tobography.com/

http://tobysnelgrove.blogspot.com

words & photo by “Judy Bishop – The Travelling Eye”

Given the approach of Valentine's day and Vancouver 2010, this story resonates perfectly.

Tuesday evening marked 3 days before 2010 Opening Ceremonies and, alas, the last clear evening for a while.  I was seated just before dusk at Sandbar Restaurant on Granville Island, on the upper deck, with the city spread out before me.   Wonderful afternoon light reflected on the buildings and water .. a sense of renewed civic love filled me.  Besides aiming for a glass of wine, I was awaiting darkness to fall so I could see the fabulous Vectorial Illumination show from this perfect vantage point.   (see older posts below for full description & photos)

afternoon light on False Creek buildings, from the upper deck at Sandbar restaurant beneath the Granville Street bridge

Once the show started, I stared quietly at its beauty, delighted at how perfect our city setting was.  Sandbar was jumping with lots of loud, happy diners and people enjoying drinks and stories, all casually dressed and having a good time.  So I nearly missed the entrance by two fifty-ish gentlemen who stood out by their dress and manners.

French, I thought, or possibly Swiss because Swiss House is nearby at Bridges' Restaurant.  Beautifully dressed, understated, fabulous shoes, superb grooming.... they quietly sat down and began speaking in low tones to each other, in the way I've so often observed in France.  A serious consultation of the wine list nailed them as French, as did questioning the server about the spices used in the sauce.

They looked a little dazed and intent, in the way of people who've just flown in from afar with timely business at hand.  Heads down, they talked and discussed, and finally as the meal finished, they seemed to relax and sit back a little.

Then, the older man's head started turning sl-o-o-o-wly a full 180 degrees as he became present and finally, fully took in his surroundings.  A blank expression of wonder came over him, his mouth fell slack.  He fell silent, which his colleague noticed.

Then the colleague did the same thing, only his blank look became a wide, toothy grin - also stunned silent.

This continued for a full 3 minutes.  Then, suddenly, they glanced at each other, started laughing uproariously and babbling simultaneously in French ... "can you BELIEVE this place?"  "Did you know it was so beautiful?"  "Maybe we can arrange more meetings?"  "I must return here for a vacation."   Both were besotted by what they were experiencing.

As I left, I approached their table, and being Francophone, gently addressed them in French:.  "Welcome to Vancouver, messieurs.  How do you like our city so far?".   The younger man glanced to the older in deference, who slowly smiled at and said, "Frankly, I have no words to describe what I think of Vancouver.  Such poetry may take me days to compose."

Ahhh, more hearts stolen by our fair city, more Frenchmen being thoroughly French.  All is well with the world on the eve of the 2010 Olympics.  And Valentine's day.....

'Judy Bishop - The Travelling Eye' is a Vancouver-based photographer specializing in travel and experience photography. Her stock images are sold worldwide by Getty Images,   Judy was a board member of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics bid, and is a keen Whistler skier.   She is a long-time business/marketing columnist for Business in Vancouver newspaper, and sits on corporate boards.

Judy is also managing partner of Bishop + Company, a 20-year old management consultancy providing corporate & market strategy for technology and growth companies.

Contact info & story summary available. Follow on Twitter @travellingeye. email:  judy@judybishop.ca